Binding Report for Abingdon Square, Manhattan Docket 02-4516
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THE NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION 1 CENTRE STREET 9TH FLOOR NORTH NEW YORK NY 10007 TEL: 212 669-7700 FAX: 212 669-7780 BINDING REPORT ISSUE DATE: DOCKET #: CRB #: 11/08/2002 02-4516 CRB 03-3053 ADDRESS BOROUGH: BLOCK/LOT: ABINGDON SQUARE HISTORIC DISTRICT MANHATTAN 624/24 GREENWICH VILLAGE To the Mayor, the Council, and the Commissioner of NYC Department of Parks & Recreation This report is issued pursuant to Sections 3020 and 854 (h) of the New York City Charter and Section 25-318 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, which require a report from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for certain plans for the construction, reconstruction, alteration, or demolition of any improvement or proposed improvement which is owned by the City or is to be constructed upon property owned by the City and is or is to be located on a landmark site or in a historic district or which contains an interior landmark. At the October 29, 2002 Public Meeting, following the Public Meeting of September 17, 2002, and the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of March 26, 2002, and the, the Landmark Preservation Commission voted to issue a positive binding report for a proposal to modify the perimeter fence and renovate the park at the subject premises. The work includes the renovation of the historic wrought-iron park fence, specifically, restoring missing decorative pieces, such as finials and anchors, and hand-scraping the fence and painting the entire fence black; creating three new entrances to the park, one located at the southern corner of Hudson Street and Eighth Avenue, one located at the northwest corner of Hudson Street and West 12th Street, and one located at the northeast corner of West 12th Street and Eighth Avenues, which includes modifying the historic fence to function as double-leaf in-swinging operable gates; and replicating the historic wrought-iron fence in the two existing park openings, one located on West 12th Street, and one located on Eighth Avenue, to be painted black; relocating the World War I statue from the northern portion of the park towards the southern portion, including the removal of the lowest stone step from the base of the statue; relocating the flagpole from the center of the park to the northwest corner of the park, to align with the new entrance; removing all of the landscape features within the park, including the park benches, light fixtures, playground, sand pit, and gravel and asphalt paving; and installing new landscape features, including bluestone pavers, park benches, light fixtures, grass and plantings. The proposal, as originally shown, featured a fountain located in the center of the park, the removal of the southern corner of the park, and the placement of the World War I monument at the extreme southern tip, outside of the park. The proposal was shown in existing and historic photographs, historic plans of the park, existing plans of the park, and proposed plans and renderings of the park, dated February 28, 2002, prepared by George Vellonakis, submitted as components of the application, and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. In reviewing this proposal noted that Abingdon Square Park is a small triangular park formed by the intersection of two or more streets, and layed out in c.1836, with a bronze World War I Doughboy statue installed in the center of the park in 1921, a flagpole dedicated to the Veterans of Foreign Wars installed in 1933, and with major interior renovations of the park occurring c.1931-1935, 1948, and 1956; and that the age, style, scale, materials, and details of park are among the features which contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Greenwich Village Historic District. The Commission also noted that Report 83-052 was issued May 27, 1983, for the renovation of the park and the relocation of the statue, that Commission Report 85-0016 was issued March 28, 1985, for the denial of a proposal for the reconstruction and realignment of the street pattern around Abingdon Square, that Commission Report 85-0018 was issued April 3, 1985, for the denial of Report 83-052, and that Binding Commission Report 00-3587 was issued December 15, 1999, for the legalization of a yardarm. With regard to this proposal, the Commission finds that the existing condition of the features within the park, including the pavement, the light fixtures, park benches, and much of the fence is poor; that the proposed design is rooted in the historical development of the park and is a modern synthesis of several periods; that the proposed design will incorporate many features which recall the history of the site; that among the features that will be renovated is the historic wrought-iron perimeter fence which will have missing historic elements restored; that changing the location of the entrances to the park, specifically, locating them on the three corners, will not diminish the character of the park and will maintain the existing historic footprint of the park; that the design of the new park entrances will reconfigure and incorporate portions of the historic fence; that the existing entrances to be eliminated will be filled in with historic fence components; that the relocation of the World War I monument toward the center of the park will allow for the creation of a plaza setting for the monument; that all of the park's paths, which are currently paved in an amalgam of cracked concrete and gravel, will be replaced with natural bluestone pavement which is appropriate to the historic and aesthetic character of the park; that the relocated flagpole will align with an entrance path into the park and is a typical feature found in historic parks in this historic district; that the use of mid-nineteenth century reproduction cast-iron benches and light fixtures has ample historic precedent throughout Greenwich Village and relates to the proposed design of the park; and that all of the proposed features of the park, including the fencing, paths, lighting, furniture, planting areas, and monument, shall be integrated into a cohesive design which will enhance the overall historic character and significance of the park and the Greenwich Village Historic District. Subsequently, on October 30, 2002, the Landmarks Preservation Commission staff received a final plan drawing, dated July 12, 2002, prepared by George Vellonakis. The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed the drawing and found that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on this and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a perforated seal and Commission Binding Report CRB03-3053 is being issued. Please note that the Landmark Preservation Commission's review of the relocation of the World War I monument is advisory. This component of the proposal must be reviewed by the Art Commission. Please provide one or more 8 by 10 inch black and white photographs of the completed work to the Art Commission of the City of New York for its records. This permit is issued on the basis of the building and site conditions described in the application and disclosed during the review process. By accepting this permit, the applicant agrees to notify the Commission if the actual building or site conditions vary or if original or historic building fabric is discovered. The Commission reserves the right to amend or revoke this permit, upon written notice to the applicant, in the event that the actual building or site conditions are materially different from those described in the application or disclosed during the review process. All approved drawings are marked approved by the Commission with a perforated seal indicating the date of approval. The work is limited to what is contained in the perforated documents. Other work or amendments to this filing must be reviewed and approved separately. The applicant is hereby put on notice that performing or maintaining any work not explicitly authorized by this permit may make the applicant liable for criminal and/or civil penalties, including imprisonment and fines. This report constitutes the permit; a copy must be prominently displayed at the site while work is in progress. Please direct inquiries to Tara Sullivan. PAGE 2 Issued: 11/8/02 DOCKET: 02-4516 Sherida E. Paulsen Chair cc: Jennifer Field, First Deputy Director of Preservation; George Vellonakis PAGE 3 Issued: 11/8/02 DOCKET: 02-4516.